How to wear pastel makeup and not look like you’re in primary school

Pastel makeup has always seemed a bit twee but could 2020 be the year it becomes cool?

Back in January (remember those pre-coronavirus days?) I attended a Fenty Beauty launch (going out! Imagine that) where Riri’s makeup artist Hector Espinal predicted that one of the biggest beauty trends for 2020 would be pastel makeup. "When I showed the Fenty pastel palettes to the editors in New York they loved the shades," he said. "They're what got everyone talking.”

I wasn’t entirely convinced, imagining it would all be a bit wishy-washy. But now confined to my home I’ve had time to try out the trend and I see where he’s coming from - baby blue and mint green might have a place in my makeup bag after all.

We last saw pastel eyes in the Sixties and Seventies. So where has the new love for them come from?

“The trend for pastel makeup comes from the rise of Gen-Z pop culture including the TV show Euphoria and celebs such as Ariana Grande,” says Urban Decay’s global MUA Danielle Roberts. She’s right; Ari is often seeing looking like a goddess in a wash of lilac eyeshadow and Hailey Bieber’s not immune to the trend either, gleaming in pastel pink makeup at the Met Gala last year.

Fenty Beauty isn’t the only big-name brand to launch pastels this year – Huda Beauty brought out three pastel palettes last month and Glossier’s matte eyeshadow Sky Wash came in the most gorgeous baby blue (I looked a bit Twiggy in it, but Jemma on the GTG team rocked it perfectly). Freck Beauty also debuted pastel eyeliners for a subtle take on the trend.

How to wear pastel eye makeup

I have fairly pale skin so was apprehensive about adding more light shades to it, but Danielle explains it’s not about perfection when it comes to pastel. “The beauty of the pastel trend is that it’s so experimental and doesn’t follow old school beauty rules; in 2020 makeup is less about beauty and more a form of self-expression, making a statement and showing the world who you are.” Hard to show the world who we are when we can’t leave our home. But at least we can show Instagram.

How do you know which is your pastel for your skin tone? I asked Remi, founder of Freck Beauty.

The best pastel eye make up

This is the palette Hector said had the US beauty writers going wild, and there’s something about them that sounds ever so glam (rather than just the American version of myself), so I was excited to try too. These shimmer shades feel buttery soft and are buildable so good if you want to go full pastel princess or just highlight the eye a little.

These are so lovely I want all three - Lilac, Mint and Rose. I love the variety of matte, shimmers and textured shadows in this little compact. Never have nine shades appealed so much. The metallic jellies and the shimmer swirl in the lilac palette are begging to be swatched while the Mint collection looks good enough to eat. Rose also houses peach and yellow shades to suit each and every skin tone. We also spied these in makeup artists Mary Greenwell's collection.

Start by building up your base with the matte shadows, use your finger to pick up one of the metallic shades and lightly press onto the lid in small, circular motions for a high-pigmented pop of powerful shimmer. Then go for an ultra-glossy, high-shine blink by sweeping one of the metallic jelly shadows with pearlescent glow across the lid.

These aren't available currently in the UK (find them on Beauty Bay and ASOS) but they’re worth the wait - or order in from the US, where they're available. Freck is best known for the fake freckle makeup but these liners are equally lovely. They create a super fine line of pigment-rich colour - the lilac is my top choice.

Chalky yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s not charming. We reviewed this on site on launch day, all that’s left to say is it’s the perfect shade to dream about wearing in a meadow on a spring evening. In a summer dress.

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